The short version
- A♭maj7 is A flat major seventh, also written G♯maj7. Its notes are A♭, C, E♭ and G (formula 1 – 3 – 5 – 7).
- Easiest way to play it: a no-barre shape at the 4th fret, frets 4 x 5 5 4 x from low E to high E (x = don’t play).
- It sounds dreamy, jazzy, sunset-in-a-convertible. Swap it in for any I or IV chord in a major key when the song needs to sound expensive.
- A♭maj7 turns up in 4 keys: A♭ major (as the Imaj7), E♭ major (as the IVmaj7), F minor (as the IIImaj7) and C minor (as the VImaj7).
- Try it in: A♭maj7 – D♭maj7 – A♭maj7 – D♭maj7, a two-chord dream-pop vamp you can loop forever.
How to play A♭maj7 on guitar, step by step
Start with the shape marked “Start here” above: the movable shape, root on the 6th string (4th fret).
- Put your index finger on fret 4 of the 6th (low E) string.
- Put your middle finger on fret 4 of the 2nd (B) string.
- Put your ring finger on fret 5 of the 4th (D) string.
- Put your little finger on fret 5 of the 3rd (G) string.
- Don’t play the A and high E strings: skip them, or touch them lightly with a spare finger so they can’t ring.
- Strum from the 6th (low E) string down, then press Strum on this page to check it sounds the same.
Once that’s comfy, try the other shape. Shape 2 is the barre chord, root on the 5th string (11th fret): x 11 13 12 13 11. Same chord, different spot on the neck, which helps when the next chord lives nearby.
Slide it around: this shape has no open strings and no barre, so the same fingering works on any fret. Move it up two frets and it becomes B♭maj7. One shape, twelve chords, zero extra homework.
Notes in the A♭maj7 chord
A♭maj7 is built from 4 notes. On guitar you’ll often play some of them twice, on different strings. That’s normal; the chord is still A♭maj7.
| Note | Interval | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ | 1 root | Names the chord and anchors the bass. |
| C | 3 major third | Makes it major (happy). |
| E♭ | 5 perfect fifth | Adds weight; often the first note left out. |
| G | 7 major seventh | The dreamy, jazzy shimmer. |
What A♭maj7 sounds like, and when to use it
A major chord plus the major seventh, which sits a semitone below the root. Dreamy and a bit wistful. City pop, neo-soul, bossa nova and bedroom pop can’t get enough. Swap it in for any I or IV chord in a major key when the song needs to sound expensive.
What key is A♭maj7 in?
A♭maj7 turns up in 4 keys: A♭ major (as the Imaj7), E♭ major (as the IVmaj7), F minor (as the IIImaj7) and C minor (as the VImaj7). Tap a key to see the rest of its chords on the circle of fifths.
| Key | Numeral | Spelled as |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ major | Imaj7 | A♭maj7 |
| E♭ major | IVmaj7 | A♭maj7 |
| F minor | IIImaj7 | A♭maj7 |
| C minor | VImaj7 | A♭maj7 |
Chords that go with A♭maj7
Here’s a progression to try: A♭maj7 – D♭maj7 – A♭maj7 – D♭maj7 (Imaj7–IVmaj7), a two-chord dream-pop vamp you can loop forever.
More progressions → Transpose it →
Using A♭maj7 in a Suno prompt
Suno pays attention to chord names in a style prompt, at least some of the time. Put the progression in, keep the BPM, and let it fill in the rest. Then compare its guitar part with the shapes above.
City pop, 98 BPM, chord progression A♭maj7 – D♭maj7 – A♭maj7 – D♭maj7, jazzy major seventh chords, clean chorus guitar, Rhodes, slap bass, dreamy and nostalgic
A♭maj7 chord FAQ
What notes are in the Abmaj7 chord?
A♭maj7 has 4 notes: A♭ (the root), C (the major third), E♭ (the perfect fifth) and G (the major seventh). The chord formula is 1 – 3 – 5 – 7.
How do you play Abmaj7 on guitar?
The medium way is movable shape, root on the 6th string (4th fret). Strings from low E to high E: 4 x 5 5 4 x (x means don’t play that string). Put your index finger on fret 4 of the 6th (low E) string. Put your middle finger on fret 4 of the 2nd (B) string. Put your ring finger on fret 5 of the 4th (D) string. Put your little finger on fret 5 of the 3rd (G) string. Don’t play the A and high E strings: skip them, or touch them lightly with a spare finger so they can’t ring.
Is Abmaj7 the same as G#maj7?
Yes. A♭maj7 and G♯maj7 are the same chord with the same fingering. They are just spelled differently. You’ll see G♯maj7 in sharp keys and A♭maj7 in flat keys.
What key is Abmaj7 in?
A♭maj7 turns up in 4 keys: A♭ major (as the Imaj7), E♭ major (as the IVmaj7), F minor (as the IIImaj7) and C minor (as the VImaj7). Major keys: A♭ major, E♭ major. Minor keys: F minor, C minor.
What is the difference between Abmaj7 and Ab7?
A♭maj7 adds the major seventh (G), a semitone below the root, so it sounds soft and dreamy. A♭7 adds the flat seventh (G♭), which sounds bluesy and wants to move on.
What chords go well with Abmaj7?
Try D♭maj7, B♭m7, Cm7 and Fm7. The progression A♭maj7 – D♭maj7 – A♭maj7 – D♭maj7 (Imaj7–IVmaj7) is a two-chord dream-pop vamp you can loop forever. Press Play progression on this page to hear it.
Other major 7th chords
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